Darlo's World

To read the original entry, please click here( http://www.darlosworld.co.uk/2011/07/14/its-all-over-and-yet-its-just-beginning/ )

So, let’s get this blog going. Yesterday I bought, started and completed (finally) Portal. As the end song kinda fits the theme of this entry, I thought I’d use it as a little background music. The animation accompanying it is by Scott Ramsoomair with the actual song being written by Jonathan Coulton and sung by Ellen McLain.

So I am now back in Telford and have just over two weeks left until I head to Japan. Last week was the London Orientation for the JET Programme where we were told moer about the programme itself, met the other UK participants, and had some Japanese language classes. It was really good to meet the other guys, especially those who will be joining me in Yamaguchi Prefecture. I now know more specifically where in Yamauchi I’ll be, the village of Takibe.

View Larger Map

Monday marked my official graduation from Leeds University. Though I already knew my marks beforehand, I still didn’t want to believe it until I had the paper in my hand. Some marks were close to failing, especially my Japanese written module which could have held a lot of problems had I failed, but thanks to some higher marks in other modules I was able to finish with an Upper Second Class with Honours degree (aka a 2:1). If you’d like to watch my ceremony online, click here. Don’t be shocked though, for reasons unknown (and yes I did ask many staff members and google’d it) Leeds University graduates (first degree that is) don’t wear the hat!

So what now for me? Well as I say I’m back in Telford now, after having to say “see you later” to a lot of good friends, reminding them we can still stay in touch through Twitter and the like. Since I’ll be heading to Japan and not taking all of my belongings with me, I’m on a bit of a mission to try and sell as much of my stuff as I possibly can. I’ve already sold a few things, but if you’d like to have a look and what I’m flogging, have a look at this list, and please share it with your friends. Besides that, guess who’ll be doing a carboot sale this weekend!

Return of the Car Boot

So the result of the JET placements is in, and I’m pleased to say that I’ll be heading to Shimonoseki City (下関市) in Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県). Am I pleased? Most definately! Though I did not specify any favoured locations on my application form, mainly because I thought it would be beneficial to show I’d be willing to go anywhere, I did have my eyes on a warmer than North area. Those of you who know me personally will have heard me talking about how I’d prefer a remote island in a warm area to Hokkaido. Though it is quite a distance from my beloved Osaka, I know that I’ll definately have the chance to go back and see some old friends at some point.

View Where Shimonoseki is in a larger map

For the past few months, well … for just under a year, I’ve been reading a Japanese novel that has yet to be translated into English (風の殺意・おわら風の盆 by Kyotaro Nishimura). I finally finished it the other day, and while I had been quite interested throughout the whole book (at sometimes more than others) I felt the ending left a lot to be desired. Similarly I have just finished reading Audition by Ryu Murakami (in English), and although I really enjoyed it throughout I couldn’t help feel it was missing something at the end, one more chapter perhaps. If you’re scratching your heads and asking yourselves where you’ve heard of that story before, chances are (if you’re a fan of Asian Cinema) you’ll have seen the film.

Oh, I read Audition in 4 days. For me, a huge accomplishment.